The sun was already setting by the time Vash arrived at the tunnel exit. Where, with any luck, he'd hoped to intercept Akira and find Kanna within his clutches.
But so far, there had been nothing. Leading him to wonder, if maybe...
'I might be too late.'
The air was still, as he cast a glance back toward the treeline where Rudolf and his [Pocket Maid], Bridget and her crew of Stormfleece scouts, were ducking; watching from behind the cover of a line of snow-covered bushes.
'Kanna...' thought Vash, returning his hard gaze to the tunnel mouth. 'I won't let him include you in his sick plan.'
Kestrel, after loyally remaining by his side for all this time, suddenly walked off with a look of intent—lowering herself on one knee, into the slushy dirt, to assess a broken-off tree branch resting conspicuously atop the piling layers of white.
"Something...was here," she murmured under her breath.
